Educational only. Mortgage Unplugged does not verify employment, contact employers, or approve loans

 Underwriters typically review recent pay stubs, W-2s, and year-to-date earnings to confirm your base pay and consistency. 

 The goal is to confirm your income is stable and likely to continue — job changes and recent shifts in pay structure can require extra review. 

 Overtime, commission, and bonuses are often averaged over time to account for ups and downs, rather than using a single high month. 

 Business income typically requires tax returns and a deeper look at trends, expenses, and sustainability. 

 It’s not just “do you get it,” but “how long have you gotten it and is it likely to continue.” 

 Lenders commonly verify employment and may confirm that you’re currently working and expected to remain employed. 

 Job gaps, short time on the job, or recent changes in hours/pay can trigger requests for additional documentation or a brief explanation. 

 Many income types are reviewed using a two-year history and year-to-date detail to identify trends and calculate a reliable qualifying income. 

 A: Because variable income fluctuates. Averaging helps confirm a reliable amount that can be expected to continue. 

 A: Job changes aren’t automatically a problem, but underwriting may need to confirm stability, pay structure, and probability of continuance. .

 A: YTD shows what you’ve actually earned so far this year and helps validate that current pay matches the historical pattern. 

 Many lenders require a current paystub dated within 30 days of application and it generally needs to show year-to-date (YTD) earnings so income can be calculated accurately. 

 Often, yes. For conventional loans, lenders typically complete a verbal verification of employment (VOE) close to closing—commonly within 10 business days of the note date for employment income. 

 It depends on the loan type and income stability. Two years is the standard benchmark, though some scenarios allow a shorter history when the earnings are consistent and continuance can be supported. In many cases, at least 12 months of documented receipt is the minimum threshold.